StacheStrong ™️

🚨 🚨 MAJOR MATCHING GIFT ALERT 🚨 🚨 We received a call earlier today from a family that would like to match up to $100,000 in donations to StacheStrong during the month of May in honor of Brain Tumor Awareness Month #BTAM. This is BEYOND generous and speaks volumes to the importance of raising awareness and driving impact. NOW IT’S YOUR TURN!!! I REPEAT, EVERY DOLLAR UP TO $100,000 WILL BE MATCHED DURING MAY. Share this post on social media, tag your friends, make a general donation, register for our 5k run/walk, donate to one of our marathon runners, start your own fundraiser etc. etc. all at Just do whatever works best for you to take advantage of this incredible opportunity. Together, we can fund $200,000 of brain cancer research with this beyond generous anonymous gift. THANK YOU AGAIN TO OUR ANONYMOUS DONOR FOR BELIEVING IN OUR MISSION AND SUPPORTING BRAIN CANCER RESEARCH 🩶🩶🩶

I’ll have so much more to say soon, but Geej, you finally made it to @espn Swipe for the personal importance behind this moment 🥹❤️ $254,252 officially raised for brain cancer research… @bostonmarathon #Boston130

New year, new you? Run with StacheStrong across the globe in support of brain cancer research and put meaning behind your miles!!! Comment, share and tag someone you think might be interested 🏃 🏃🏽‍♀️ 🏃🏻‍♂️ * #braincancer #cancer #glioblastoma #marathon #run

On February 25, I suffered a seizure that didn’t look like a typical seizure, almost more stroke-like symptoms. Within 72 hours I was diagnosed with a tumor in my brain called glioblastoma grade 4. THANKFULLY I was one of the lucky ones who was able to afford health insurance and was able to receive the immediate help I needed. I underwent surgery right away. 2 months later there was tumor activity and regrowth. I knew I had to make lifestyle changes, so I did. Along with chemotherapy, radiation, immunotherapy, better diet, exercise, and continuing to live my life by constantly pursuing my passion of the beauty industry kept me alive past what time they said I had left. Here I am almost 2.5 years and I’m not done yet.

Months before our wedding, our world was turned upside down when my husband suffered a stroke while traveling. Doctors later diagnosed him with a minor heart defect, which they believe likely triggered the stroke. This traumatic event ultimately led to the discovery of an even more serious condition he hadn’t known about—a brain tumor. Brett has always been in excellent health with no prior symptoms, so this news came as a complete shock. We found ourselves navigating a whirlwind of emotions, all while preparing for our wedding day. We are incredibly grateful the doctors allowed him to postpone surgery so we could fully enjoy our wedding and honeymoon. We chose to keep everything private at the time, allowing us to truly savor those special moments despite all the uncertainty. Brett had surgery in December 2024, and the doctor was able to successfully remove 95% of the tumor. Unfortunately, he experienced post-operative complications and lost the use of most of the muscles in his face. He was unable to swallow, chew, or speak, and relied on a feeding tube while communicating through a whiteboard. Despite these challenges, Brett made an incredible recovery through determination and hard work. Brett is one of the strongest people I’ve ever known. He’s always such a goofball, constantly making everyone laugh. Every day, he continues to fight this terrible disease while doing his best to stay positive.

When I was in medical school in my early 20s training to eventually become a neurosurgeon, my mother got brain cancer. She eventually passed away after 3 months of treatment. That cemented me wanting to become a neurosurgeon and I have now been a board certified neurosurgeon for over 27 years. I have seen numerous brain cancer cases and have been able to make a difference in other peoples’ lives through my work. I’m proud to partner with @stachestrong , an incredible organization also making a difference in the lives of so many. StacheStrong was founded by brothers GJ and Colin, following GJ’s unfortunate diagnosis of glioblastoma, and has funded over $7M of brain cancer research in memory of GJ and others like my mom. We’re truly stronger, together!

Barton was diagnosed with a “lemon sized” brain tumor in his right frontal lobe in November of 2023. He had two brain surgeries in December that year; one to remove the tumor and one to treat an infection that occurred during the healing process. The treatment after the 2nd operation was 6 weeks of IV antibiotic infusions, 6 hours a day. The pathology revealed the tumor to be a grade 2 Oligodendroglioma. One week after completing the antibiotic treatment he started rehearsals to create the new Broadway adaptation of S.E. Hinton’s ‘The Outsiders’. The show debuted on Broadway in April of 2024 and won the Tony award for best musical that June. Barton is still living life as full as possible, pursuing a career in the arts, and advocating for brain cancer awareness and funding!

In September 2024, what should have been a joyful celebration of my mom’s 60th birthday and her retirement after 37 years of teaching changed in an instant. She suffered an unexpected seizure, and soon after, we learned she had a brain tumor which was diagnosed as glioblastoma. Since then, our mom, Melissa, has faced this diagnosis with extraordinary courage. She has undergone two craniotomies, one of them awake, along with chemotherapy, radiation, a clinical trial, and now an off-label trial medication. Through it all, she continues to meet each day with strength and grace, never letting go of her faith or her belief in miracles. Growing up, our mom’s nickname was “Hope.” It’s a name that feels more meaningful now than ever. It’s what carries her, and all families facing glioblastoma, through the hardest days. Hope for healing, and hope that one day there will be a cure. Glioblastoma patients are true warriors, embodying a resilience that humbles and inspires. We are deeply grateful to the teams at Mass General, Dana Farber, and Johns Hopkins. Because of their compassion, expertise, and the advancements happening every day, our mom is still fighting. Now is not the time to lose hope. It is a time to believe in science, to raise awareness, and to support causes like StacheStrong.

Hope Through Research: Grant Spotlight Institution: Mount Sinai NYC Lead: Dr. Hormigo In collaboration with National Brain Tumor Society (NBTS) Grant year: 2020 Grant summary: Trial evaluated the safety, efficacy, and feasibility of delivering a therapeutic vaccine to patients made up of their own dendritic cells (isolated from blood samples), loaded with individualized multiple neoantigens made from synthetic peptides created in the laboratory and based on the specific alterations found in a patient’s tumor tissue. For patients and families facing brain cancer, research and breakthroughs like this mean everything. With 65+ funded grants, we are building a diverse and high-impact research pipeline to tackle brain cancer from every angle. You can help accelerate progress by continuing to support and donate to StacheStrong. #braincancerresearch #cancerresearch #grantspotlight #braincancer #cancer

It may be back to business on Boylston St., but those Boston Marathon moments continue into May. Double your donation this May in support of Brain Tumor Awareness Month up to $100,000, thanks to a generous StacheStrong donor!!! Colin Gerner ran his first Boston Marathon to honor his late brother, GJ, a man he said could light up a room. “He was my big brother, a smile that you never got sick of,” Gerner said. GJ was diagnosed with glioblastoma at the age of 28 and passed away two years later. “He fought GBM and lived his 25 months exactly like the way he lived the 28 years before that,” Gerner said. Before undergoing surgery, G.J. decided to trim his beard into a mustache, a choice that inspired the creation of a foundation that has raised millions for brain cancer research. “It’s so much more than a mustache. It’s a desire to live life fully, a desire to fight back and a desire to do everything possible for your loved one going through a brain cancer diagnosis,” Gerner said. When Gerner crossed the Boston Marathon finish line, he had raised more than $250,000, making him one of the event’s top fundraisers. The funds are now supporting a significant research grant at Massachusetts General Hospital.

It was June 27, 2017, when I got a call from my husband that his brain tumor had come back. That was the moment my life was turned completely upside down and would never be the same. My husband, Matt Cappotelli, had been diagnosed with stage 2 brain cancer back in 2006 but had been cancer free for over 10 years. Naively, I thought this would always be the case. Little did I know, the worst was yet to come. This time, the tumor was grade IV glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). Matt immediately had brain surgery to remove as much of the tumor as possible and then continued after that with oral chemotherapy. Typical of Matt, the day after his brain surgery, he was joking around with the therapists and nurses and was in good spirits. He was already talking about when he could eat pizza next (his favorite)! Just as he had for the last 10 years, Matt remained positive and hopeful during his treatments. He clung to his faith. He never let it get him down. He was still always looking out for others more than himself. I remember one instance, after his first intravenous chemotherapy treatment, the nurse asked if he needed anything before she left and he said, “A hug!” She got a huge smile on her face and then gave him a hug. That was just SO Matt. Even when he began to decline and his parents and I became his caretakers, he was still always making sure that WE were okay-that’s just how he was. He continued to laugh and crack jokes with us, even as he slowly lost the ability to communicate and his body withered away. It was excruciating watching my big, strong, outgoing, funny, full of life husband slowly wither away before my very eyes. Matt took his last breath on June 29, 2018, exactly a year after his surgery. I watched my amazing husband fight for his life and go through brain cancer not only once, but TWICE, and through it all, he never whined or complained or asked, “Why me?” I watched him face each day with hope and courage, always focused on others more than himself and how to bring God glory through it. All he wanted to do with his life, and his story was to encourage and inspire others, and give them hope. He was such a fighter. He was a true warrior.

I was diagnosed in April 2023 at 43 years old. I had had some very mild sensations for a couple of years but didn't get worse. I finally asked my doctor about it and went for an MRI. I assumed nothing of it. I was fine and healthy and active. Well, I wasn't. They found a lesion/tumor on my parietal lobe. I immediately went into panic mode then came out of it and did all the things they said: radiation, chemo and brain surgery. I also started diving into keto diet, lifestyle, exercise, meditation and all the things from an eastern perspective too. More functional than just standard of care (which really hasn't changed much). I believe in both. Since then, I have shared my journey and plan to continue to do so. I also work with Oligo Nation on fundraisers and funding research.